Back pack

ABSTRACT

A backpack having a pocket with a transparent front portion and an EL lighted panel in the backside of the pocket is described. The panel glows with EL light when illuminated. An interchangeable medium like Mylar with an indicia printed on it is inserted between the transparent front portion of the pocket and the EL panel.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of priority, under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/822,329, filed Aug. 14, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains generally to safety articles, systems and methods, particularly in situations involving poor visibility due to lighting or weather conditions.

BACKGROUND ART

People use roadways for such activities as walking, running, biking, or waiting for buses. Risks are present for such people when lighting conditions are poor such as may occur at night or during inclement weather. As a result, there is a need for improvements in safety for such people engaging in these or other outdoor activities in conditions of poor visibility. In order to protect such people from these risks, there is a need to improve their visibility during poor lighting conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D there is illustrated various views of a backpack, according to example embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment of the invention.

DISCLOSURE

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D there is illustrated a first embodiment of a backpack 100 according to the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. The backpack 100 includes a lighting system 108 including a pocket 102 with a transparent front side 103 and an Electroluminescent (EL) lighted panel 104 on the back side thereof, wherein at least substantially the entire surface of the EL panel 104 glows with EL light when illuminated. Backpack 100 includes a front 101, a front right side 105, and a front left side (not visible in FIG. 1A). An interchangeable medium 109, for example formed of a transparent, opaque or a semi-transparent sheet, or any combination thereof, may be inserted between the transparent front side 103 of the pocket 102 and the EL panel 104. One edge 107 of front side 103 of the pocket 102 contains an opening, optionally with closure system 114 to open and close the pocket for access thereto, facilitating the easy insertion and removal of the interchangeable medium 109. Such system 114 may take any form that allows it to be easily opened or closed, such as a zipper system, Velcro closing system, a button system or any other system. The closure system 114 may also be in the form of a flap. In some embodiments, the front side 101 of the backpack may also contain a switch 118 that triggers the EL panel 104 to glow. According to another example embodiment, lighting system 108 may optionally also be provided on a side or back of the backpack 100.

When the medium 109 is formed of a transparent material, an indicia 106 may be printed thereon, for example using a printer connected to a home or office computer system. The indicia 106 may be printed in color using a color printer, or with black ink. The EL light emitted from EL panel 104 may therefore shine through the medium 109 and highlight the indicia 106. When formed of an opaque material, an indicia 106 may be formed by cutting apertures or a pattern, for example using a scissors, in the opaque material thereon. In this instance the EL light emitted from EL panel 104 may therefore shine through the removed portions of the medium and form a patterned light. Indicia 106 may take the form of text or graphics or pictures, samples of which are depicted at 106A, 106B, and 106C in FIG. 1D.

According to another example embodiment, the lighting system may be formed as described above except that the transparent front side 103 may be omitted and the medium 109 held in place only along its edges. According to another example embodiment, the medium 109 may be held in place with an interference fit, or by gravity, so that the closure system 114 may be eliminated. According to still another example embodiment, instead of a pocket 102, the medium 109 may be held over the EL panel 104 using a light, transparent adhesive, such as that used on Post-it® notes, such that the medium may be removed from the panel without leaving a substantial residue, to allow another medium to be applied.

Thus, when the EL panel 104 is illuminated, it backlights medium 109 and either backlights, highlights, or shines through any indicia 106 thereon. As noted above, indicia 106 may be printed on the medium 109 using a printer. Indicia 106 may be created using an authoring tool such as Word® or graphics design software. In another example of the embodiment, the manually operated switch 118 can also be replaced or supplemented by a motion sensing and light-activated switch that would automatically turn the EL lighting panel 104 on in dark conditions when the backpack is in motion due to be being carried by a user.

According to still another example embodiment, the EL panel 104 may be powered using a disposable or rechargeable battery, and a power pack unit that provides a suitable power signal, for example an AC signal, as is conventional in the art, or as may be developed in the future.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 of printing indicia 208 using a printer device 204 connected to a personal computer 202 on a transparent sheet 206 (such as Mylar), inserting the Mylar sheet 206 in between the EL lighting panel 104 and the front 103 of the pocket 102 of the backpack 100, wherein the panel glows with EL light when lighted as explained by reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C above. The Mylar sheet is held in place, without being permanently affixed to the backpack so that it can be easily removed or replaced.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention includes any other applications in which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a backpack; an EL lighting panel wherein the panel glows with EL light when illuminated; and a mechanism to hold an interchangeable medium over the EL panel, wherein the medium includes indicia printed thereon.
 2. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EL lighting panel and the mechanism are positioned on the front of the backpack.
 3. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the EL lighting panel and the mechanism are positioned on the side of the backpack.
 4. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a fastener.
 5. A method, comprising: printing indicia on a transparent sheet using a printing device connected to a personal computer; placing the transparent sheet over an EL lighting panel on a backpack wherein the panel glows with EL light when illuminated; and wherein the transparent sheet is held in place without being permanently affixed to the backpack so that it can be easily removed and replaced. 